Connecting device for tabulating machines



L. M. KEEFE June 16, 1942.

CONNECTING DEVICE FOR TABULATING MACHINES Filed Aug, 9, 1938 3Sheets-Sheet 2 June 16, 1942. L. M. KEEFE 2,286,812

CONNECTING DEVICE FOR TABULATING MACHINES Filed Aug. 9, 1938 3Sheets-Sheet 3 cocoa .INVENTOR Lincoln Hlfeefe l/mM4M ATTORNEYSQOOOOOBIO! will borrow Patented June 16, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE CONNECTING DEVICE FOR TABULATING MACHINES Lincoln M. Keefe,Springfield, Mass. Application August 9. 1938, Serial No. 223,813

(or. m -azs) 3 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in connecting devices fortabulating machines, and has for a principal object the provision ofmeans for quickly interconnecting the sensing means of a tabulatingmachine with the accumulating and/or printing means and the machinecontrol means.

In existing electrical tabulating machines, the upper sensing brushesterminate in Jacks and are conveniently located in a plug-board. Thelower brushes also terminate in jacks which are for convenience,parallel to the upper brush jacks.

The accumulating and printing devices terminate in other jacks on theplug-board; the machine control means terminate in still other jackspositioned on the plug-board in two groups-one group for associationwith upper brush jacks, and the other group for association with lowerbrush jacks. Shunt circuits in the machine also terminate in a row ofjacks in the plug-board and usually a major and a minor control plug areavailable for insertion into these shunt jacks in accordance with thekind of control desired. The major and minor Jacks are normallypositioned in "dead Jacks which are provided for holding the plugs sothat they do not dangle.

In utilizing the machine, it is customary to interconnect certain of thelower brush Jacks with the accumulating lacks in accordance with theresults desired, and as stated above, the machine control jacks in onegroup are designed to be interconnected with the upper brushes, and inanother group are designed to be interconnected with the lower brushes.

In making the setup, it has been customary in the prior art toindividually make the connections by means of plug wires.

Some of the existing tabulating machines are provided with removableplug boards whereby the user of such a machine may have several plugboard for one machine, each plug board maintaining in fact a diflerentsetup.

Some of the disadvantages of the removable plug board are 1. They arecomplicated and relatively expensive.

2. They are more or less bulky and fragile, therefore suitable storagefacilities must be provided for them and great care must be exercised toprevent them from becoming damaged.

3. There is ever present the danger that a clerk running short of plugwires on a new setup one or more plug wires from some other removableplug board setup and forget to replace the wires later with the resultthat ii the plug board from which the wires were borrowed is used errorsin tabulating result and retabulation of cards is inevitable.

One of the objects of the present invention is to overcome all of theabove disadvantages.

According to the present invention, which con templates the provision ofpanels having preconnected contacts connected in accordance with setupswhich are frequently used, the machine is provided with a receptacle forsuch panels having a plurality of plunger contacts each of which isconnected to an element of the machine. Such connections are preferablymade in addition to the connections between the various elements and thejacks and the plug-board above referred to.

Since this receptacle is preferably located near the plug-board, it maybe convenient to provide permanent connections between each jack in theplug-board at the rear there0f, -and a corresponding plunger contact insaid receptacle, said contacts being mounted on insulated supports insaid receptacle. Means are provided on the receptacle for advancing thepanel toward said plungers and against the resiliency thereof, so thatthe interconnected contacts in the panel will contact with correspondingplungers, thereby quickly interconnecting the elements of the tabulatingmachine in accordance with the desired setup without the necessity ofindividually interconnecting any Jacks in the regular plug-board of themachine by means of plug wires.

The panels having pre-connected contacts connected in accordance withsetups which are frequently used are preferably in the form of wafershaving no delicate parts which might be subject to damage in handlingand furthermore these panels are relatively thin and for a standardnumeric tabulating machine only approximately 5" x 8" in size.

It is, therefore, possible to stack these panels or wafers like recordcards and they may be thrown around and roughly handled without becomingdamaged.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a sketch showing the jacks on a plug-board of a moderntabulating machine, the layout of plunger contacts in the receptacle forcontaining the new and improved connector panels, and interconnectionsbetween some of the jacks in the plug-board and some of .the plungers insaid receptacle;

Figure 2 is a schematic machine;

diagram of .a tabulating Figure 3 is a front elevation of the panelreceptacle;

Figure 4 is a plan view of the receptacle; Figure 5 is an end elevationof the receptacle; Figure 6 is a cross sectional elevation taken alongthe lines 56, Figure 3, showing the receptacle in its closed positionwith the new and improved connector panel in position therein;

Figure 7 is a cross section of a portion of the plunger board takenalong the lines 'l'|, Figure.

1, showing details of one method of mounting k the plungers and one ofthe dowels or locking pins for bringing the contacts of the panel inwall of the panel;

Figure 13 is a viewof a rear wall such as illustrated in Figure havingcertain contact members applied theretoand permanently intercon-' nectedto form a setup; and

Figure 14 is a view similar to Figure 9 showing details of anothermethod of interconnecting the contact members.

The tabulating machine plug-board 20 carries a plurality of jacks whichform terminals of the upper brushes and which are designated by theletters DU. For example, the jack of the upper brush reading the 10thvertical column in the record would be designated as DU-ili, the

jack in the upper brush reading the 15th vertical column would bedesignated as DU-i 5, etc.

The plug-board also includes a plurality of jacks designated by theletters DL, forming terminals of the lower brushes. The jacks formingthe terminals of the lower brush reading the 5th column of the recordwould be designated as DIP-5 and would refer to any one of the threejacks in the vertical row under 5.

The accumulators in the tabulating machine terminate in jacks designatedby the letter E. The machine control jacks are designated by the lettersFU and FL, ten such jacks being shown in each group. These jacks areusually connected as follows:

A FU jack is connected to a DU jack and a corresponding FL jack isconnected to a DL jack corresponding with the DU jack; a series of shuntjacks designated by the letters FS are provided and may be connected formajor or for minor control.

A plug wire 22, which normally may be inserted in a dead jack 2i to keepit from dangling, may be removed from the dead jack 2| and connected toone of the FS jacks when major control is desired. A plug wire 24 whichnormally may be inserted in a dead jack 23 to keep it from dangling maybe removed from the dead jack 23 and connected to one of the FS jackswhen minor control is desired.

The plunger board 25 carries a plurality of plungers arranged in rows.These plungers are interconnected with the jacks on the plug-board andthose plungers which are interconnected with the DU jacks are designatedby the letters DUP, the jack DUi being connected to the plunger DUP-ithe jack DU-2 being connected to the plunger DUP--2, etc.

In order to keep the drawings, Figure i, from being too complicated,some of these connections havebeen omitted but it must be understoodthat each upper. brushjack DU is connected to a corresponding plungerDUP. Likewise, the lower brush jacks DL are connected to correspondingplungers DLP. However, it is not deemed necessary to have a plurality ofplungers for each lower brush as multiple connections may be made withinthe new and improved panel or wafer itself.

The plunger board also has a row of plungers interconnected with the rowof accumulator jacks E, said plungers being designated by the lettersEP. The plunger board 25 also includes plungers corresponding to andinterconnected with, respectively, the jacks FU, FL, and FS, the rows ofplungers being respectively designated as FUP, FLP and FSP.

The dead Jacks 2i and 23 in the plug-board are interconnected withcorresponding plungers 2l-P and 23-? in the plunger board 25 so thatconnections from major or minor control, or both, may be made within thepanel which cooperates with the plungers, the plug wires 22 and 2| beingnormally inserted in their associated lacks 2i and 23.

One type of plunger suitable for use in the plunger board 25 isillustrated in detail inFigure '7 and consists of a plunger contactmember 5| having a reduced portion 52, the end 53 of which is preferablyrounded. The plunger contactyis mounted in a hole in the board 25 andthe shoulder 54 limits the distance the reduced portion 52 stands fromthe surface of the board 25. A hole communicates and is concentric withthe hole in which the reduced portion 52 fits and the body 5| of theplunger contact member forms a working fit in the hole 55.

A spring 56 urges the contact member upwardly as viewed in Figure '7. Aplug 51 threaded into the board 25 serves as a retainer for the spring56, and connection may be made to the plug 51 by soldering a connectingwire into the slot 58.

Although a detailed description of only one plunger contact is given theothers may be constructed in the same manner and the plug 51 of each maybe individually connected to a corresponding jack in the plug board 20.

The plunger board 25 also carries dowels 28 and 21 adapted to engagecorresponding holes in the removable panel which will presently bedescribed, to insure accurate registration of the plungers with thecontacts carried on the panel.

The receptacle, Figures 3 to 6 inclusive, consists of a frame 3|) whichsupports the plunger board 25 and which is provided with feet 28 havingsuitable holes 29 formed therein through which suitable bolts or screws31 may extend for securing the receptacle to a portion 36 of thetabulating machine.

The plunger board may be held in the frame 30 by means of suitablescrews 3i. The back of the frame may be closed by means of a suitablesheet of insulation 32 backed by a metal plate 33. The sheet 32 and theplate 33 may have formed therein openings 34 and 35 through which thewires interconnecting the plungers with the jacks in the plug board maypass.

The frame 30 is provided with downwardly and outwardly extending lugs 38and 39 as viewed in Figures 3 and 5. A metallic plate 40 forming a doorhas right angled ends II and 80 having respectively lugs 4i and 42extending downwardly and outwardly therefrom as viewed in Figures 3 and5; the lugs ll and il have holes formed therein respectively matchingholes formed in the lugs Ii and 42. A bolt It extends through holes inthe lugs ll and II and carries a washer 44 and a nut ll. A washer II ispositioned on the bolt between the lugs 3| and ti. Likewise, a bolt 41passes through the holes in the lugs l2 and 89 and is provided with awasher 4| and a nut 49. A washer II is positioned on the bolt 4'!between the lugs 39 and 42, thereby the door is maintained in hingedrelation with the frame-30.

A bracket 6i secured to the plate I. in any suitable manner-for example,by means of rivets Iii-has end lugs 88 and 84 formed thereon. A linkmember 6| has one end thereof pivotally connected to the lug 63 by meansof a screw 66 and a nut 61. A. link 08 has one end thereof pivotallyconnected to the lug 84 by means of a screw 69 and a nut ID.

A bracket ll carried on the frame 30 forms a journal for one end of ashaft 12. A similar bracket 13 carried on the frame It forms a journalfor the other end of the shaft I2. A crank arm 14 is keyed to the shaft12 on one end thereof immediately adjacent to the bracket II. A similarcrank arm 15 is keyed to the shaft 12 at the'other end thereof adjacentto the bracket 13. The right end of the shaft, as viewed in Figure 4, isthreaded and a suitable nut 16 and washer l1 serve to retain the crankarm 15 in keyed relation to the shaft.

Adjacent to the crank arm 14 on the other end of the shaft is a crankarm 18 extending preferably at right angles to the crank arm 14 and alsokeyed to the shaft 12, a nut 19 and a washer 80 serving to maintain thecranks l4 and 18 in keyed relation to the shaft 12. The crank I8 at thelower end thereof as viewed in Figure 3, is provided with a suitablehandle ii.

The crank arm 14 has its'upper end pivotally connected to the link bymeans of a screw 82, a nut 83 and a washer 84. Likewise, the upper endof the crank arm 15 is pivotally connected to the link by means of ascrew 85, a nut 86 and a Washer 81.

As long. as the crank 18 remains in a vertical plane; for example in theposition shown in Figure 5; the receptacle is closed. When the crank ismoved in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 5, to a horizontalis opened so that the panel or wafer, generally designated by thenumeral 90, may be bodily removed therefrom.

The interior face of the door 40 may have secured thereto a resilientmat 9| adapted to exert practically uniform pressure against the face ofthe panel 90 when the same is in the receptacle, thereby backing uppressure exerted by the plunger contacts 5|, see Figure 6.

The improved connector panel, details of which are shown in Figures 8 to14, will now be described.

The back plate 88 is provided with a plurality of grouped holes 89representing upper brushes, a plurality of grouped holes 9| representinglower brushes, a plurality of grouped holes 92 representing theaccumulators, a plurality of grouped holes 93 representing the machinecontrol and the shunt connections in the tabulating machine and positionthe door 40 (ill ' be individually soldered to the next.

holes I4 and II respectively representing minor and major control.

The back plate II also has formed therein dowel holes "a. and 210. Thisback plate may be formed of fibre, Bakelite or any, other suitableinsulating material and all of the holes illustrated may be originallypunched therein.

A'n intermediate plate .0 has a rectangular per? tion 81 cut out andforming a frame. The frame It is provided with dowel holes 20b and 21bwhich match the dowel holes 280 and "a when the frame is superimposed onthe back plate 88.

A front plate is provided with dowel holes 26;: and Na which match upwith the corresponding holes in the back plate ll and the frame 96 whenthe three plates are assembled together. A record 99 may be secured tothe face of the plate 08 showing the card form of the particular setupto which the assembled panel or wafer relates.

As to assembling or making up the panel for a given setup, the procedureis as follows:

A back plate I! is taken and eyelets ill are inserted in the holescorresponding to plungers which are to be interconnected. These eyeletsare then set after which wires or conductors may interconnect theeyelets in a manner desired. I'br example, in Figure 13 it will be'noted that an eyelet corresponding to the jack DL-l2 is connected to aneyelet representing an accumulator Jack El-I, an eyelet corresponding tolower brush Jack DL-H is connected to an eyelet corresponding to anaccumulator jack E2-9, etc.

For interconnecting the eyelets either bare or insulated wire may beused and in case bare wire I04 is used, suitable tape or strips ofinsulation I M may be applied over one layer before adding After thedesired connections have been made, a frame member 96 is applied withthe dowel holes 26!) and 21b matching respectively the holes 26a and No.It will be noted that the connections all fall within the opening 91 inthe frame and the remaining space is filled with aplastic I02 afterwhich the front plate 98 may then be 'applied with its dowel holes 260and 210 matching the corresponding dowel holes in the other plates.

A suitable ferrule or binder I03 may then be applied around the edges ofthe assembly to form a unitary structure in the form of a wafer or panel90.

The plastic I02 is preferably a material which remains in a plasticstate instead of hardening up. Although the ferrule ill! may be formedof thin metal, I have found that certain types of adhesive tape serveadmirably to hold the structure 90 together, especially in view of thefact that the plastic I02 has adhesive qualities.

Instead of setting the eyelets I00 as shown in Figure 9 and solderingthe wires thereto after the eyelets have been set, a furthermodification. shown in Figure 14, contemplates the application ofthe-wires illla to the eyelets IBM in the back plate 88a andindividually setting them on the wires after which the wires may besoldered to the eyelets, or in cases where the eyelets have walls ofsubstantial thickness, soldering might be deemed unnecessary.

The setup illustrated in Figure 13 is given by way of example inconnection with a sales analysis wherein a quantity and amount of salesof certain commodities are tabulated according to territories. As suchtabulations are well known and and the setting of the machine. adetailed description of the connections need not herein be given betweenthe eyelets which correspond to the jacks in the plug-board.

The connections are clearly illustrated in Figure 13 and the indicationson the eyelets correspond to the indications on the Jacks in theplugboard, Figure 1.

As a further modification, both the front and the back faces of thepanels may carry eyelets or contact members, the eyelets in one'facebeing interconnected by conductors and the eyelets in the other facebeing interconnected by other conductors, thereby providing a connectorpanel carrying two distinct set-ups.

Although the panel is illustrated in the drawings as comprised of twoplates of insulating material with a plastic therebetween, it is obviousthat the panel may be molded of insulating ma.- terial, such asBakelite, or the like, with the eyelets or inserts carried in one facethereof and the conductors imbedded within the body of the material.

Although the. invention has been disclosed in connection with thespecific details of a preferred embodiment. thereof, it must beunderstood that such details are not intended to be limitative of theinvention except in so far as set forth in the accompanying claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A connector panel comprised of a pair of plates of insulatingmaterial spaced apart from each other, a plurality of rigid contactdevices formed of rivets carried in one of said plates, the heads ofsaid rivets comprising contact surfaces lying substantially parallel tothe outer face of the plates in which they are carried, a mass ofnon-hardening adhesive plastic filling the space between said plates, aplurality of conductors embedded'in said plastic and permanentlyinterconnecting said contact devices in a predetermined order, and meansembracing the edges of said plates for securing them together to form aunitary structure.

2. In a quick connecting panel, a front plate formed of insulatingmaterial, an intermediate plate hollowed out to form a frame, and asolid rear plate, said front plate being formed with a plurality ofholes therein, contactor devices comprising rivets mounted in at leastsome of said holes and set, a plurality of conductors permanentlyinterconnecting said rivets in accordance with a predetermined pattern,said rivets and connections being so positioned in said front plate thatthey fall within the open area of said frame. a non-hardening adhesiveplastic filling the space within said frame and embracing saidconductors, and a strip of binding material applied around the edges ofsaid plates and frame for securing them together to form a unitarystructure.

3. In a quick connecting panel, a front plate formed of insulatingmaterial, an intermediate plate hollowed out to form a frame, and asolid rear plate, said front plate being formed witha plurality of holestherein, hollow rivets positionedv in said holes and set, a plurality ofconductors permanently interconnecting said rivets in accordance with apredetermined pattermthe rears of said rivets and said connections beingso positioned on the rear of the frontplate that they fallwithin thehollowed out space in said frame, a non-hardening adhesive plasticfilling the space within said frame and embracing said conductors,

and a strip of binding material applied around the edges of said platesand frame for securing them together to form a unitary structure.

LINCOLN M. KEEFE.

